Grading Colts Roster Moves from 2024 Offseason

The Indianapolis Colts have made several deals for their team ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts finished the 2023 season with a better-than-expected 9-8 record under first-year head coach Shane Steichen. With several key players needing new contracts ahead of 2024, the Colts have made the right moves to retain the building blocks that will help build the franchise around quarterback Anthony Richardson. The team has also dipped outside the in-house re-signings to add talent in needy areas of the roster. 

With this as the subject, it's time to dive into the grades for each move and a brief rundown on what it could mean for the upcoming year and the near future of the franchise. 

Wide Receiver | Michael Pittman Jr. - Grade | A+

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Pass-catcher Michael Pittman Jr. and the Colts agreed on a new contract after getting the franchise tag ahead of the March 5th deadline. However, it didn't take long for Indianapolis to retain arguably their best offensive weapon. The deal is three years long and worth $71.5 million, with $46 million guaranteed. 

Pittman has earned the money by improving since entering the league in 2020. He's also done this with constant quarterback and coach stations. With stability building around Pittman under Steichen and Richardson, it can only make him better. He's got a chance to improve from an impressive 2023, where he caught 109 passes for 1,152 yards and four scores. 

Running Back | Trey Sermon - Grade | C+

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Former third-round pick Trey Sermon joined Indianapolis last season after playing with Steichen and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. Sermon didn't get a chance to play much for Indy in 2023, but when he saw the field, he did well as a piece of the offense led by Gardner Minshew. This led to the Colts re-signing him to a one-year deal. 

Sermon tallied 35 carries for 160 rushing yards last season. He also added three catches for 13 receiving yards. While these aren't eye-popping metrics, he complements Jonathan Taylor and Evan Hull well enough in the backfield. Indy may be wise to select a day-three running back to compete with Sermon, who hasn't played the best or much at all in his three seasons. 

Quarterback | Joe Flacco - Grade | C

Minshew's performance as the relief quarterback for the Colts proved that having a solid backup plan at the most important position in football is crucial. Minshew's season led to the Colts adding former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to the spot behind Richardson on a one-year, $8.7 million deal ($4.5 million guaranteed). Flacco is coming off a Comeback Player of the Year performance with the Cleveland Browns in 2023. Flacco tallied 123/204 completions for 1,616 passing yards and 13 touchdown tosses. 

While it might have made sense to sign Tyrod Taylor or Tyler Huntley, given their similarity to Richardson's athleticism, Flacco can still operate Steichen's scheme. Given that Minshew did well without much mobility or arm strength, Flacco may follow suit if he needs to be under center and won't lack the ability to push the ball downfield to downfield threats like Alec Pierce. 

Defensive Tackle | Grover Stewart - Grade | B+

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Defensive tackle Grover Stewart showed immense value in 2023 when he served a six-game suspension. During this stretch without Stewart, Taven Bryan and Eric Johnson II were butchered against opposing ground attacks and couldn't find footing. Stewart ended up receiving a three-year, $39 million deal to keep him alongside DeForest Buckner on the interior.

Stewart ranked fifth on Colt's defense in 2023 for overall defensive grade per Pro Football Focus, posting 76.2 in front of defensive end Kwity Paye. Stewart also displayed solid ground defense with 77.3. It's a smart move by Chris Ballard to keep Stewart, pairing him with Buckner and an intriguing defensive front. 

Defensive Tackle | Raekwon Davis - Grade | B-

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Raekwon Davis isn't a household name but will prove to be very valuable to the Colts defensive front. As mentioned with Stewart, the Colts had awful showings with their defensive tackle depth. Even when Stewart was playing and needed a play or two off, the plan to attack the Indy defense was clear to run through the A gap where Stewart was. Now that Davis is the recipient of a two-year, $14 million deal after spending time with the Miami Dolphins, he'll bring a good level of NFL experience to help Stewart and Buckner. 

In 2023, Davis rounded up 28 tackles and six quarterback hits; and was reliable in run defense. There could be the off-chance Indy grabs another depth defender, but Davis will factor in by helping the Colts defense not skip a beat in stopping the run. 

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Defensive End | Genard Avery - Grade | D+

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One of the more questionable moves was giving Genard Avery a new contract for 2023. While he didn't get a chance to play in his first season with Indianapolis due to a knee injury, he isn't a strong enough player to need a re-signing. However, the Colts see something there, as they gave Avery a new one-year deal. 

In 2022, Avery played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and grabbed five tackles (one for loss) and 1.0 sacks. Before that, Avery had time around Steichen with the Eagles. In 2021, he had arguably his best career season with 43 tackles, 1.0 sacks, and 12 games started. We'll see if Avery will have an impact as a backup piece in the pass-rushing room. 

Defensive End | Tyquan Lewis - Grade | B

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The issue with the defensive front in 2023 was consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. While the franchise logged 51 sacks as a team (fifth in the NFL), the numbers weren't as consistent as defensive coordinator Gus Bradley would have liked. One of the most crucial defenders at keeping quarterbacks uncomfortable wasn't a starter. Defensive end Tyquan Lewis is a solid signing and makes perfect sense. 

While he had both 2021 and 2022 derailed with patellar tendon injuries, Indy believed in Lewis, and it paid off. After playing all 17 games, grabbing 4.0 sacks, and 44 QB pressures (third on the team) last year, the franchise paid Lewis a two-year, $12 million deal with $7.7 million guaranteed. Lewis will continue to provide great production as a pass-rusher who averaged a pressure every 5.8 passing snaps in 2023. 

Linebacker | Ronnie Harrison Jr. - Grade | C

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Former Jacksonville Jaguars defender Ronnie Harrison Jr. signed with the Colts in 2023 and provided a solid spark in coverage at the linebacker position. After playing safety from 2018-2022, the Colts moved Harrison over to linebacker where he showed versatility in a spot that needed it.

Harrison grabbed 20 tackles, 1.0 sacks, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown. He also posted a 61.9 coverage grade per PFF, which is the level Indy needs at linebacker. These numbers pushed Indianapolis to give Harrison a new one-year deal. Harrison will compete with Segun Olubi for defensive snaps and give the Colts reliability in pass coverage. 

Linebacker | Zaire Franklin - Grade | B+

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Colts defensive captain Zaire Franklin played another stellar season for Bradley's stop troops. After breaking out in 2022 with a franchise-record 167 tackles, Franklin outperformed that campaign in 2023. Franklin grabbed another record of 179 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, and six passes defended. The back-to-back seasons that Franklin had convinced Indy to extend the former seventh-rounder. 

While there is still a year left on his previous deal, Franklin will make $31,260,000 over three years after the extension starting in 2025. Franklin is worth the money and is a clear leader on a young defense. Retaining his services was one of the many moves that Indy had to make to keep their core players intact. 

Cornerback | Kenny Moore II - Grade | A-

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Cornerback Kenny Moore II returned to form in 2023 after falling from grace the previous campaign. In his second year with Bradley's defense, Moore had 93 tackles (eight for loss), three interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. He also had consistent and reliable coverage, posting a rock-solid 79.3 grade (first on Colts defense). 

His 2023 season convinced Indianapolis to pay him for three years and $30 million. The new contract also makes him the highest-paid nickel cornerback in league history. This signing is great work from Ballard of retaining an overlooked defender in the NFL, which will also help the young secondary develop with talents like JuJu Brents and anyone Indy may acquire in the NFL draft. 

Punter | Rigoberto Sanchez - Grade | B-

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Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez missed the entire 2022 season with a torn Achilles injury. However, he bounced back in 2023 by playing all 17 games and looked better than ever in year one of Steichen and special teams coordinator Brian Mason. Sanchez booted 68 punts for 3,281 yards (48.3 per punt) and 0 landing for touchbacks. He also placed 30.9% of his kicks inside the 20-yard line (21 total). 

This campaign and return from Sanchez earned him a three-year, $7.5 million contract. While this isn't an exciting position to retain, watching punter Matt Haack replace Sanchez in 2022 will make any fan happy about the contract. Haack averaged under 40 net yards per punt (39.6) and wasn't a consistent punter when called upon. 

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